Criminal Justice and Corrections at Stevenson University

Stevenson's criminal justice program sits in an unusual position: it performs slightly above the national average but trails most Maryland competitors, landing in just the 40th percentile statewide. With graduates earning $38,745 initially, this program lags Maryland's median by roughly $2,600—a meaningful gap when University of Maryland Global Campus and University of Baltimore graduates are earning $55,000-$49,000 in the same field.

The positive story here is growth trajectory. Earnings jump 31% to $50,767 by year four, suggesting that while entry-level positions may be modest, career progression exists. The $27,000 debt load equals the state median and creates a manageable 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio, so graduates aren't underwater financially. Still, those stronger Maryland programs don't just offer better starting salaries—they likely provide stronger employer networks and placement in higher-paying jurisdictions or federal positions.

For Maryland families, this becomes a value calculation. If your child can access University of Baltimore or UMGC at comparable cost, those programs deliver significantly better immediate returns. Stevenson works best for students who need the higher admission rate (83%) to get their foot in the door and are willing to grind through those early career years. The earnings do improve, but you're banking on patience paying off when stronger alternatives exist in-state.